Well, Bublik can, and despite rattling around inside the top 50 for about seven years, things have started to come together for him in the past 12 months.
The mindset Bublik is talking about is that, for him, tennis is a โshowโ, and whatโs the point of being on a show if you arenโt having fun?
Alexander Bublik during his win over Jannik Sinner at Halle last year.Credit: Getty Images
The 28-year-old has become famous for his on-court antics, and thereโs an endless stream of viral moments where heโs obviously having a blast on court.
Like when he leapt into the crowd at the 2024 Adelaide International while trying to get to a ball and helped himself to a fansโ packet of chips.
Or when he handed a ball kid his racquet this week during the Kooyong Classic and let him play a couple of points (itโs not the first time heโs done it).
Otherwise, itโs his frequent use of the tweener or underarm serve that gets the crowd going and keeps his opponents on his toes.
Despite embracing โhis wayโ, thatโs not to say heโs rigid. Heโs open to changing something in his game or in his routine โ but the change has to come from himself, not from anyone else.
If he wants to practise for an hour, he will. But if he thinks he needs more time on the court, heโs just as willing to head out to hit some more balls.
But itโs not all about the grind, says Bublik. โYes. we make a living of it, but at the end itโs just a game that people play for fun.โ
He is as much an entertainer as he is a tennis player, and itโs working for him so far.
Alexander Bublik after defeating Alex de Minaur at the French Open last year.Credit: Getty Images
โMe and my team, we never call tennis an actual big sport. For me, itโs entertainment because you can have different ways of playing it,โ he said.
โYou can find someone can be talented, but not physically well, but he can still be actually a good tennis player. Someone can be super physical, but no talent at all, but he can still run out and make some results … For me, this sport is about fun.
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โItโs good, itโs physical, itโs technical, itโs tactical, but there is room for fun, and I think itโs a game in the first place, itโs not a sport. Itโs not weightlifting, itโs a game. There are different rules. You can play this way, that way, doubles, mixed, short court, big court, whatever you can play, because itโs a game.โ
Bublik is scheduled to play American Jenson Brooksby in the first round on Sunday.
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